The Sporting News names All-Star Team

Saturday

Oct 25, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 25, 2008 at 4:22 AM

Cliff Lee’s honors continue to grow. The Indians left-hander is The Sporting News 2008 Comeback Player of the Year for the American League. The Mets’ Fernando Tatis is the winner for the National League.

Josh Weir

Cliff Lee’s honors continue to grow.

The Indians left-hander is The Sporting News 2008 Comeback Player of the Year for the American League. The Mets’ Fernando Tatis is the winner for the National League.

Lee and Tatis were chosen by a panel of 314 major league players.

In addition, Lee and Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore were chosen to The Sporting News All-Star Team, announced annually since 1925. This is the first time two Indians have been on the team since 2001, when Jim Thome and Juan Gonzalez made it.

A poll of 41 general managers and assistant general managers selected the All-Star teams.

Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA this season, becoming Cleveland’s first 20-game winner since 1974. In 2007, he struggled with injury and inconsistency, finishing the year 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and off the club’s postseason roster.

“Last year, I got injured in spring training, and I was playing catch-up all season,” Lee told TSN. “This year ... I felt like I did a better job of keeping my mind in the moment.”

Lee possesses comeback awards from MLB.com and the Players Choice Awards as well, to go with pitcher of the year awards from TSN and the Players Choice Awards.

Sizemore hit 33 home runs and 39 doubles while stealing 38 bases. He and Florida’s Hanley Ramirez were the only players in baseball to have at least 30 in all three categories. Sizemore drove in 90 runs and batted .268. He is the first Indian to lead the team in hits four straight seasons since “Shoeless” Joe Jackson (1911-14).